Super PACS, voter limits may be key

Monday

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama holds a fundraiser hosted by George Clooney and rakes in $15 million for his re-election campaign.

WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama holds a fundraiser hosted by George Clooney and rakes in $15 million for his re-election campaign.

Mitt Romney goes to Vegas with his new friend, Donald Trump, he of the gravity-defying hair and gargantuan ego, and raises $2 million in a couple of hours.

Obama has well over $300 million in his war chest, but super political action committees supporting him are not doing so well.

Romney has raised about $56 million, but super PACs wanting to elect him are getting huge amounts of money, worrying the White House. Some wealthy donors are giving millions of dollars - each - to elect Romney.

It used to be illegal for the super-rich to finance campaigns, but since the Supreme Court's famed 2010 Citizens United vs. Federal Election Commission ruling that money is equivalent to free speech, rich people can give to their hearts' content through super PACs. And super PACs are not even required to disclose their donors.

Las Vegas casino magnate Sheldon Adelson and his wife kept Newt Gingrich on the campaign trail for months with reported donations of $16.5 million to Winning Our Future, the Gingrich super PAC.

It is now a given that the presidential contests and congressional elections this year will total $3 billion.

ABBA was right: "Money. Money. Money. ... It's a rich man's world."

Which raises the question: What do all the millionaires and billionaires get in return for their fat checks?

Trump, the entertainer, gets a second huge round of publicity, which makes people watch "Celebrity Apprentice," which makes him even richer. And he gets access to Romney, who has a 50-50 chance of becoming president.

Adelson becomes a player. Even though Newt was his man, watch for the Adelsons to drop a few million into a super PAC backing Romney. The prize? Access to a pro-business president.

Believe it.

A president who has dined with someone who has given big bucks to get him elected will take a telephone call from him/her or invite that person to a state dinner or listen carefully when a regulatory matter involving that person is brought to his attention. And it continues, especially if the president wants to be re-elected.

There are many who think the Supreme Court's 2010 decision on super PACs is one of the most anti-democratic decisions in our history. Defenders of the decision say it is pro-democracy because it defends everyone's right to put their money where their mouths are.

At any rate, there is no doubt that it is a pro-big-wealth decision because it gives more power to people with money.

Those who live paycheck to paycheck may contribute a few dollars to a political campaign, but those who sit on millions of dollars are able to contribute vastly more. And that means clout.

What each of us does have is a vote.

But that, too, is under assault.

Efforts are under way in such swing states as Florida to make voting harder.

Even though there is no evidence that voter fraud is widespread, more than 17 states are instituting tough new restrictions on voting.

They will go into effect this November in such ways as requiring seniors to get new photo identification.

Some states no longer will accept student IDs. Some states are curtailing early voting and/or absentee ballots.

Volunteers at election sites are being threatened with serious penalties if they make a mistake, encouraging them to err on the side of denying voters access to ballots.

Taken in tandem, these two new developments - unlimited money and voter restrictions - could be enough in a photo-finish election to decide the results. And yet we hear little consternation from those most affected: voters.

Perhaps it is because it's summer and it's tiresome to think of election politics. But come November, it may be too late. Shout, people! Shout!

Scripps Howard columnist Ann McFeatters has covered the White House and national politics since 1986. Email amcfeatters@nationalpress.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.